Tired of your internet connection going down in the middle of an important online meeting? Well, we can all relate to how frustrating slow internet or frequent internet outage could be. But no need to test your patience anymore with slow internet issues. We have prepared a checklist on you can fix the problem at your end and what you can do in case your internet is not working.
Here are 9 helpful tips for you on how you can troubleshoot your internet connection, so without any further delay let’s get into it:
1. Search for a new ISP
If your internet connection goes down way too often then it’s high time for you to look for a new service provider. There is no need to keep giving chances to your current ISP as you’re paying for your internet connection to get your online tasks down smoothly rather than constantly fixing your router or waiting for the connection to get stable.
Search for ISPs in your area that are well-reputed and known for delivering consistent and fast internet speeds. Make sure you sign up for an internet service provider that does not impose any contracts in internet plans like Windstream Internet. Their internet plans can get you speeds up to a Gig without imposing any data caps and support multi-device connectivity.
2. Try restarting your device
This might be a no-brainer tip but it actually works in most cases. Begin with restarting your device. Give your system some time to clear up things and start again. The reason your device is showing no internet connection or slow internet is that there is too much happening on your device and this is why it is not recognizing the network or being uncooperative. Restarting your device will give it a fresh start and chances are that your connection problem gets resolved when you restart your device.
3. Reposition your router
The reason your internet connection is not delivering you the best speeds might be the position you’ve placed the router inside your house. Reposition your router and try placing it to the central point from where the signals get equally distributed throughout the house. Big concrete walls, a lot of electrical appliances, and remote corners of the house can significantly block Wi-Fi signals which can be one of the major reasons you face slow internet or no internet at all.
4. Go through your internet plan
Give your internet plan and bill a thorough reading and check if your service provider is imposing any data caps on your plan. Data caps can be another reason why you’re facing lagging issues and interrupted connections. If your internet plan has data caps in it then try to limit your internet usage or go for a plan that offers unlimited data.
5. Try connecting internet on a different device
This is another simple hack to check what the main cause of the trouble is. If a certain website or device shows that you do not have an internet connection try checking on a different device so you can narrow down the problem to a particular device or website.
The issue might be with the browser’s cache and not your internet connection. Try to visit different sites from a private browsing window and you can see if your internet connection is working. If yes, then you need to clear your browser’s cookies and cache.
6. Check your cables, if using Ethernet
Using Ethernet is a good practice if you want to experience consistent high speeds, but if your internet connection is acting flimsy try with a new Ethernet cable because chances are that your cable is impaired or needs to be replaced with a new one. Also, try to consider the length of your Ethernet cable as well and see if that makes a difference.
7. Look out for viruses
Do you know that viruses and malware can affect your internet connection to a great extent? Run an antivirus test on your device and check if it’s infected by a virus, spyware, or malware, if yes, then it could be a reason your internet performance is not up to the mark. Install updated antivirus software and keep scanning for malware manually on regular basis. You can also set up automatic scanning on your devices.
8. Cut down on the users or connected devices
Is your router password protected? If not then do it right now! Not only this is crucial for your cyber security but it will also protect your bandwidth from getting shared amongst unwanted users. And if you have got a lot of devices connected to your internet connection then you must limit it to a certain number as the more devices connected to your internet, the more bandwidth is occupied and this can be a reason you’re facing slow internet speeds.
9. Upgrade to a new router
Have you been using the same router for years now? The reason why it’s not delivering you the best speeds could be that your router is old and tired now. Why don’t you try your hands on a new router and see how immensely your experience is enhanced. Consider upgrading to new hardware, especially when you have multiple connected devices in your home as new routers can handle comparatively more bandwidth.
Go for a dual-band router as it gives users two radio bands to pick from and offers more bandwidth for online gaming and streaming etc.
Final Words
Slow internet is exhausting but there are several ways to deal with that. Rather than crying and wasting your energy on why your connection isn’t working properly, try the aforementioned hacks to fix it yourself.